A radical Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh has issued a fatwa against Muslims watching television, calling the device “haram (sinful)”. The fatwa was issued by the Dar-ul Uloom in Deoband, near Muzaffarnagar, in response to a madarsa teacher’s plea to clarify whether watching Islamic channels and televised debates on religious issues was right.

The teacher, a resident of Saharanpur, had asked whether watching an Islamic TV channel showing a debate on religious topics was right or wrong. Dar-ul Uloom took the stand that in the due course of watching television, people inevitably browse through channels that show “immoral” and “vulgar” programmes.

“The Prophet said… you should see from whom you are taking your religious lessons,” the fatwa stated.

“Matters of religion should be learnt from authentic and pious people. Television is a tool of entertainment and enjoyment. It is most widely used for unlawful and prohibited things. If lawful matters are learnt from authentic people even then it is unlawful to listen to it through the TV, since it includes more or less haram things. And while watching religious programmes on TV a person slowly starts browsing through other programme as well,” the fatwa read.

The clerics clarified their fatwa was not binding. However, Islamic scholars slammed the interpretation.

“Is watching religious programmes, like the Haj pilgrimage, on television not acceptable, too,” one of them was quoted by The Telegraph, Calcutta, as saying.

Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahli, the youngest member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Imam of Lucknow Eidgah, told Mail Today: “Jamat-e-Ulema, the highest body of the Dar-ul Uloom, itself invites TV channels to cover its programmes and then its members watch it themselves. They also demand live telecast of Haj procession. Many Islamic organisations themselves deploy video camerapersons to shoot their programmes and provide to TV channels for telecast. I strongly oppose such kind of fatwas which keep your young away from information and technology.”

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, Shia scholar and vice-president of AIMPLB, said: “Such fatwas bring a bad name to the community. I would rather propagate the use of TV for good things. We come to know about entire world from TV only. How can we be aloof from our surroundings.”

When they talk about madrassa reforms they should talk about reforms to eliminate such literalist reading of the book from indian islam. instead they are prescribing modern curriculum. as one maulvi put it succinctly, if they want modern education, they should go to modern schools.

Right. Of course, as is the case everywhere:–> Terrorism is condemned in Islam. Osama is not an Islam etc etc.

Why is there a trend in Islam to blame others for everything? Cant Islam ever make a mistake? How can the so called “nut” be corrected if there is no acknowledgment of the problem?

Instead of pointing fingers at the “Bhaiyyas” for creating the fatwa, a deeper question that everyone has missed is the idea/concept of the fatwa itself. The tool that enables whackos from Egypt to India to Indonesia to make anything and everything a “fatwa”, from watching movies to burning books to killing people. Why is there no debate on the notion of “fatwas” themselves instead of blaming “bhaiyyas”.

I believe fatwas are pronouncemnts that are found in Quoran and othe assorted islamic religious books. I wonder if this particular fatwa also finds a mention in Quoran, for there was not TV during MO’s time

Are Indian media and Intellectuals afraid of Muslim fundamentalism? The answer is yes because the people who barked like mad street dogs on the Guruvayoor issue are quite on Muslim fundamentalists attacking Sania. The true colour of Indian media and intellectuals is exposed.

All it needs is for the police to enforce existing law. Some of these people should be booked as trying to restrict personal freedom and jailed to make an example out of them. I don’t think anyone else is going to pipe up with any more fatwas on such issues.

What does the Indian constitution have to say about ‘passing fatwas’ and other edicts (aimed at a section of the population in a communal manner) – since they are public statements which might have a harmful effect overall?

Can legal action be taken against someone who’ issues’ religious edicts which ask for killing/harming/ostracizing someone, exhorting one set of people to behave one way based on religion etc.?